My spin on the Grateful Dead classic premieres on Netflix tomorrow
Update 3/16: Wow! The show is #3 in the U.S., and I did not anticipate this kind of response. Clips like this one (by Netflix Reviews) of the final scene are are popping up on Youtube, along with a new artist page on Tunefind. The song has been Shazammed 6,000+ times in the past couple days. Thank you to all of the folks (Deadheads!) who have made the effort to reach out and find me.
Update 3/12: I watched the last five minutes of episode 8 where the song is featured. It was a surreal experience and one I will not soon forget! They cranked the song way up in the sound mix, which was awesome and unexpected. I believe I have Chris White at House of Sound for that – his bold choice of bringing the vocals up in the mix, and for bringing in Jamie Frost (of The Makers) on lap steel.
I checked my phone as I always do, despite knowing this is the worst way to start a morning. But then…what’s this? An intriguing email from a UK address.
“Set five minutes in the future, “The One” follows events after a scientific breakthrough has allowed people to use DNA testing to find their ideal partner. But even perfectly matched couples have secrets, and “The One” follows some that have shocking and deadly consequences, as well as the wider explosive implications of DNA-based pairings. Based on the celebrated John Marrs novel.”
Would I be willing to license my version of “Friend of the Devil” for an upcoming Studio Canal/Urban Myth production? Could I send over an uncompressed version?
Having received unsolicited requests like this in the past, I was skeptical. They often lead artists to believe they’re about to sign deal, only to end up at a payment page for “membership” in “licensing opportunities.” (NEVER pay up front for anything, save the cost of recording.)
I googled the sender. He was an actual person at a licensing agency with the title “music supervisor.” First hurdle cleared.
Then there was the issue of finding an uncompressed version of the song. I released the album, “Use Your Hands” 10 years ago. Luckily, I found a copy conveniently located in a storage space under the eaves of my house.
The next three months consisted of more hurdles, from paperwork snafus to getting the final OK from the director. To distract myself, I read “The One,” with fingers crossed that it would all work out. The book reminded me of my days as a UW undergrad, studying in London and devouring trashy British paperbacks on the tube. It’s a quick and crazy read.
The song plays in the final scene of episode 8, the season finale. In the esteemed tradition of Team America, during a montage. This could be a spoiler: Someone takes the DNA test, someone gets pregnant, and someone gets murdered.
I can’t say I ever pictured my music being played over a murder scene (I’m more of a wedding singer type) but hey, anything for “The One.”
Did you watch the show? Let me know what you think!
Hey Connor ..that’s just great news . You must send us d song on our group or to me so we can hear it too and if I can when possible hear it on screen in ‘the One ‘
All the best for the future …may such great opportunities come ur way
Thank you, Shaili!
The show is set to come out today- not sure if it will be on Netflix India but that would be so cool!
Wow! Just finished The One and was thrilled to hear your version of Friend of the Devil played at the end. I couldn’t find any music credits nor was I successful googling who you were. After going through lots of artists on Apple Music, as I was about to give up I found YOU. Thank you for the beautiful piece. Sincerely, a DeadHead from the early 70s.
Hi Ellen!
So happy to hear from a Deadhead ☺️ and glad you found me! Just noticed last night no credits were made. Bummer, lesson learned.
Thank you for persevering and for your kind words.
Connor
I cannot tell you how long I searched until I FINALLY found who covered this song! I got so distracted by your cover that I forgot to pay attention to the scene playing. Excellent, excellent work. Beautiful!
And now I am on my way to see what else you’ve done. <3
Hi Jeannie,
Thank you for persevering! It’s great to have you here. So glad you like the song ♥️
Love your version of this beloved Grateful Dead (Jerry Garcia) standard! I rewatched the scenes to re-listen to you… It is a rare convergence in “TV ” for perfectly placed chosen music and a cover song to boot.
I too was disappointed that no credits to the music, you and the GD band.
Hope to hear more of you!
Hi Stephanie,
Thanks for finding me and for your kind words. Heard back from the placement director that apparently crediting musicians (aside from those who score the background music) is not standard practice on streaming shows. News to me! But all the more grateful (ha!) to those who took the time to investigate.
Hi Connor– I was SMITTEN by your version. I am so glad that it was in the episode, and so glad that Shazam recognized you as the artist. I will be checking out more of your work as a result.
So sorry to hear that you weren’t properly credited. This was HARDLY background music, so one would think this would have been handled in a better way…
Anyway– I look forward to sharing this with my musician friends. It won’t be *much* of a bump, but I’m hoping I’ll tell someone who will tell someone….
🙂
Hi Danielle,
Thank you for investigating and writing me! You bring up an interesting distinction; not just that the music was used but how. One of the odd things about sync gigs is you don’t get to see the scene with placement up front- just a basic description. (Literally, so and so is pregnant, so and so is murdered…). I wonder if that will start to change, or if artists with bigger names (management) do get to see the scene pre-release.
I really appreciate any word of mouth recs, so thank you! That’ll have to be how it happens.
Great to hear from you!
Well done, Connor! Exquisite rendition that perfectly portrays the devil, our deceiver. Softly, sweetly, tenderly wooing us in order to kill and destroy the captive.
Looking forward to reading the book.
Thanks, Linda!
Appreciate your words.
Will be interested to hear what you think about the book. So far, it seems very different from the show.
I was caught up in your song! I knew nothing of this song until I heard it on the The One. Your version is so haunting and perfect for the end of this show. Where can I find more of your recordings?
Thank you, Gary!
I have links to my albums on the “music” page of this site. Thank you for asking! Glad you enjoyed the track ☺️
Hey now, Connor! Another Dead Head who just watched “The One” and ended up here. Congrats on scoring this song on such an epic movie. Just be warned: once Dead Heads discover you en masse, you won’t be able to shake us, and you’ll find at least one or two at every live show you do. Any chance you can share how this song came to be on “Use Your Hands” and why you chose it?
Chris T.! Welcome ☺️
I hope your predictions come true. If there’s anything I (and the world) needs more of now, it’s Dead Heads.
Thank you for your questions. The song’s inclusion on Use Your Hands was purely timing. I had been messing around with it and it was time to release some music. It was always a favorite- a close-out-a-long-night, comfort song for me. I think I have that in common with a lot of people.
Absolutely thrilled that I found your whole version of the song without the movie sounds in the background! You’ve done turns and mind altering moves to the song that make watchers ache to come back for another season. Excellently done!
Hi Kristina!
Wow- what a wonderful compliment. Thank you so much. Happy to have you here!
Connor
I just finished watching the show, and your song was perfect for the ending. Congratulations on your accomplishment, and thank you for sharing your story! I hope it’s just the beginning of even greater successes.
Thank you, Tess! So great to hear from you. What did you make of the show?
Connor, I like many others will learn about you through The One. I’m glad you stuck it out. I find this cover haunting and spectacular and am not surprised it was featured so prominently in the show. I don’t know if you appreciate comparisons with Shawn Colvin’s Shotgun down the Avalanche for example but I mean this in as positive way as I can state it that I can’t wait to hear more of your own work and looking forward to being surprised again.
Hi Steven,
I love Shawn Colvin, and that song in particular, so I fully embrace your positive intent! I actually just put a Spotify playlist together of songs that inspired my Friend of the Devil cover and Shawn Colvin has two tracks on it – her versions of “Twilight” and “Killing the Blues” (both from the album Cover Girl).
Thanks so much for writing, and for listening.
Connor
Absolutely love your cover of this! I just watched the final episode of ‘The One’ and I had to find this track and you. Your voice is hauntingly beautiful and I’m so glad to have discovered you and your songs. I wish you all the very best and hope that this leads to more work for you.
Hi Martin,
Thanks so much for finding me and for your kind words! I’m so pleased you liked the song- I hope it leads to more work as well! I’ll be getting back into the studio this summer 🙂
What did you think of the show??
Thanks for writing!
Connor
ps- noticed you subscribed on YouTube. Thanks for that!
Just received your CD in the post today! I’m so looking forward to hearing it. I’m gonna listen to it on my way up to the hills for some hiking, the weather has just broken here after months of rain and the sky is as blue as can be.
Hi Martin-
Great to hear from you again! Thank you for ordering the CD and supporting the arts! I’m anxious to hear what you think of the rest of the album besides Friend of the Devil 🙂 Whereabouts are you living? Sounds similar to Seattle weather. Hope you had a great hike! – Connor
I found that I’d been ‘Netflixed’ again! They seem to really good at that. I really liked the use of music, but one or two of the tracks were haunting, I just had to go and find who was performing them. I hope you’ve been paid for the use of your track? I wish you had got a credit for it at the end. I’m so glad I found you and your beautiful voice. All the very best for your upcoming recording session. 🙂
Connor, I am not clear did you sing on that track? It was amazing! Ty!
Hi Talon-
Yes, ‘twas me!
Thank you! So glad you like it- did you hear it on The One?
Thanks for writing!
I think the premise of the show was interesting and emotionally, it made me wish it could be so, but only because I feel so irrevocably lonely. Wouldn’t it be great if there was someone who was the other half of you, who made you “whole” but I fear we are all just stars shining in the darkness, never able to even elucidate the unbearable lightness of being. I fear I will reach the end of my small life never knowing if there was anyone who could have made me feel anything other than all alone.
Your song “Move your hands” has had me in floods of tears while driving along in my van. The sound of your voice makes the hairs on my arms stand on end and I find I keep playing it over and over. Isn’t it strange how we make connections. I wish you all the very best Connor. Please keep making your beautiful music.
Martin-
I am indebted to you for your beautiful words. Are you a writer?
I have to point out that I wrote “Use Your Hands” while feeling intense loneliness inside of a relationship. As Three Dog Night says- two can be as bad as one, it’s the loneliest number since the number one.
It’s clear from your nature that you have indeed touched many lives, and I hope you get to hear about that. But I think I tend to agree, whether we are coupled up or not, that we are all “stars shining in the darkness,” as you say.
I have some new material in the works and I’m very excited to share it with you <3